What I Want for Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day approaching, I have been evaluating the post idea I had originally planned to publish.

I was planning a post on sharing Mother’s Day gift ideas.  However, I started thinking more about Mother’s Day and realized while it’s definitely nice to receive gifts and be shown appreciation, I pondered what I really wanted for Mother’s Day.

So, I decided to change the focus a bit.

I kept coming up with ideas that were geared toward presents children could make for or give to their mother.   Sounds normal, right?  Well, this year, I want something different.   I’m still going to publish my Mother’s Day post, but it will be totally different than I had originally planned. (You can see it here)

Here is what I REALLY want for Mother’s Day:

I want a hug and a smoochy, jelly-faced kiss with an “I love you, Mama” from my little one’s over-stuffed mouth.

I want wildflowers half wilted and lovingly set on the counter for me.

I want to savor the sweet moments when I hear my kids complimenting and caring for each other.

I want to sing silly songs. Especially ones we invented.

I want to chew bubble gum and blow bubbles until they pop on our noses.

I want to teach them to read and spell their name.

I want to see their bright, shining eyes sparkling with pride as they show me the wiggly worm in their palm.

I want to burn in my memory the sound of their belly laughs.

I want to save the picture of me they colored and the big happy smile they put on my face (even when I expected them to draw a very different expression).

I want to remember their ‘compliments’ like, “I want my hair to be fuzzy like yours, Mommy” and “Your mole looks like a meatball, Mommy”.

I want to color and paint-by-number.

I want to watch the wind blowing their sun-streaked hair.

I want to fix up their boo-boos when they fall down.

I want to swing on the swings and have a contest to see who can go the highest. Up to the sky!

I want to feel the pride bubbling up inside me as I watch them overcome their fears.

I want to twirl and silly dance around the kitchen to our favorite songs.

I want to tickle them and pretend the little caterpillar is going to sneak into his cocoon under their arm.

I want to read Good Night, Moon and I Love You Forever for the 732nd time.

I want to take a nature walk and find treasures.

I want to teach them to pray and tell them the stories in the Bible.

I want to play dress up and let them “do” my hair.

I want to pull them in the wagon all the way around the block. Yes, I really do.

I want to fly a kite on a blustery day.

I want to run behind them holding the seat of their bike and cheer like no one’s watching when they ride off on their own.

I want to put on those cute little boots and jump in puddles in the rain.

I want to tuck them in bed and bear hug until we can barely breathe.

I want to teach them about Jesus’ love and help them memorize difficult Bible verses.

I want to hear their excitement bursting out over the castle they conquered in the video game.

I want to play Life and Quirkle and a super long game of Monopoly. Oh, yes, then we’ll play Cranium.

I want to bake cookies and let everyone eat at least five cookies and dip them in a big glass of chocolate milk.

I want to run through the sprinkler with them and get totally soaked during a water gun fight.

I want to catch lightning bugs on a summery night.

I want to stay up late and watch our favorite movie with popcorn spilling everywhere.

I want to have a “camp-over” in the family room and roast hot dogs and s’mores in the fireplace.

I want to take them to a children’s museum and actually go ‘grocery shopping’ and ‘fishing’ with them.

I want to have ice cream for dinner at least one night during the summer.

I want to teach them to sing. And to dance. And most especially to love.

What do I want for Mother’s Day?

Nothing.

I already have them.